Spanish Football News Blog

Camp Nou maybe one of world football's biggest stadia, but a new one could be even more impressive...

Barcelona could be playing on their own island off the coast of the Catalan capital in a new 150,000-capacity stadium if a local architect were to have his way.  Emili Vidal has laid out ambitious plans to build the European champions a new arena that would stun the world of football and change the face of the Blaugrana. La Vanguardia report that the visionary came up with the plans because he feels that the model of renovation that the club has accepted from Sir Norman Foster for Camp Nou is not enough.

While access problems will remain if the club stayed at their current location, Vidal's proposal would see the number of seats rise by over half if he was able to build a new stadium. Situated in front of the Forum at the Diagonal Mar end of the city, the structure would stand on a man-made island off the coast and be accessible via a bridge.  Vidal may recognise that his idea may never come to fruition, but it has stirred the debate about what steps to take with the current stadium once again.

goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/07/19/1391154/camp-nou-in-the-sea-sparks-barcelona-debate

On the verge of a move back to his hometown club, the departing Red explained how he plans to fit back in at the Bernabeu...

Alvaro Arbeloa is looking forward to restarting his career with Real Madrid, and is already thinking about beating Barcelona - again.  During his near two-year spell with Liverpool, he helped the Reds secure huge victories against the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Inter.  However, it's Liverpool’s famous win over Barcelona in the Champions League back in 2007 that will be the night he will always savour.

“The Barcelona match was my first start for Liverpool,” Arbeloa told Goal.com.

“The match was also my first European game for Liverpool. Barcelona were the holders at the time and we came from behind to beat them 2-1. That was so special, I cannot describe how I felt.

“You have to remember that I used to play for Madrid before I came to Liverpool, so it meant a lot to me.”

www.goal.com/en-india/news/2175/la-liga/2009/07/31/1414180/exclusive-real-madrid-signing-alvaro-arbeloa-thanks

Daniel Guiza has sought to end speculation that he could leave Fenerbahce this summer by committing himself to staying in Turkey and looking to build on his first season. The Spanish striker has been linked with several clubs after stating that he maybe on the move, but a change of heart has meant that he is now staying put.

Last term, Guiza played 51 times for Fener and scored 21 goals despite the team not shining and he now wants to try and add to that tally.

"It's even not necessary to talk about anything new," he told reporters in Turkey.

"I'm very happy here. Everything is going well. I have a three-year contract and I will stay.

"Our coach [Christoph] Daum trusts me. I don't have the idea of leaving in my mind."

www.goal.com/en-india/news/2175/la-liga/2009/07/31/1414880/daniel-guiza-i-am-staying-with-fenerbahce

The Serie A side are looking for some new faces in attack and the Dutch international's name is back on their list...

Milan have lost five consecutive pre-season matches and alarm bells are ringing around the club's headquarters at Via Turati, as coach Leonardo believes he requires a larger squad to compete for trophies. The club have done little to reinforce themselves after selling talisman Kaka to Real Madrid for €65 million and after a number of failed attempts for strikers will turn their attention back to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, according to the the Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Dutch hitman is now surplus to requirements at the White House after their historic spending spree this summer and Milan are hoping they can prise him away from the Santiago Bernabeu.  The Rossoneri attempted that feat earlier this summer, wanting to take the former Ajax star on-loan, but Real Madrid president Florentino Perez wants to sell the player outright in order to recoup part of the €27 million spent on the player last winter. The 25-year-old reportedly rejected a move to Stuttgart and is now also linked with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Liverpool.

www.goal.com/en-india/news/2176/serie-a/2009/07/31/1414724/ac-milan-reignite-interest-in-real-madrid-striker-klaas-jan

Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has predicted that Real Madrid's spending spree will end in failure and possible bankruptcy.  Real have spent almost £200 million since Florentino Perez regained his seat as chairman, bringing Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol to the Liga club. The spending is set to continue, with moves for Bayern star Franck Ribery and Liverpool's Xabi Alonso on the cards, but Hoeness thinks their business model is unsustainable.

"In time Real will have a big problem when the bailiffs come to the Bernabeu stadium," Hoeness said at an Audi launch in Munich. "They will not be able to settle their debts.

"The bucket can only keep going to the well until it breaks but they are still taking it to the well."

More at  uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/31072009/58/bundesliga-hoeness-real-fail.html

Italian prosecutors have appealed against Guardiola's acquittal and the case will be re-examined in September...

Barcelona's treble-winning coach Pep Guardiola has been summoned by Italy's Olympic Committee (CONI) after his doping ban acquittal for testing positive for nandrolone in 2001 was appealed by the anti-doping prosecutor.

Guardiola failed doping tests for the banned substance nandrolone in 2001 when he played for Brescia. The Spaniard was handed a four month ban, but he appealed and was subsequently acquitted. The FIGC's (Italian FA) disciplinary panel had cleared the coach of any wrong doing following his appeal.

However, he now faces further questioning in relation to the doping tests as the Italian anti-doping prosecutor called for the case to be re-opened following an appeal against the FIGC's decision to acquit the coach during a hearing last May.

Another hearing is expected to take place on September 15 - a key date as the Champions League group stages begin.

CONI confirmed their intention to re-open the case against Guardiola on their official website

www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/07/31/1414498/pep-guardiola-doping-case-to-be-re-opened-by-italian

Looking to build on their impressive season last time out, Malaga have added two more players to their ranks...

Malaga have reached a deal to sign Edinho from AEK and the forward is set to be presented alongside Albert Luque, who made his loan move from Ajax permanent.

The Andalucian club announced that the duo will be introduced to the media and then to the supporters as they continue to strengthen for the new season.

Edinho, 27, spent just one season in Greece with AEK after signing permanent deal following a successful loan move and joins Malaga for €900,000.

"Malaga Club de Futbol and AEK have reached a deal for the striker Arnaldo Edi Lopes Da Silva, known as Edinho, to join the Spanish club," the Malaga website stated.

Luque has also joined the club after he spent last term on a temporary basis with Malaga and revelled in his return to Spanish football.

The former Mallorca and Deportivo star struggled to perform in England with Newcastle United and then in Holland with Ajax and after returning to the Amsterdam Arena briefly this month, he was released.

Edinho began his career with Vitoria Setubal in Portugal before having spells with Almada, Barreirense, Braga, Pacos Ferreira and Gil Vicente before returning to his first side.

goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/07/31/1414276/malaga-to-present-edinho-alongside-albert-luque

Coach Pep Guardiola has admitted that Barcelona may have concluded their summer spending.

Although the treble winners have spent over 60million euros on Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Maxwell and Keirrison, that figure has been dwarfed by the 200m euros splashed out by Spanish rivals Real Madrid.

Real's spending spree has inflated the transfer market and Guardiola accepts that Barca may not be able to afford any more high-profile signings.

"The market is open but very complicated," said Guardiola. "All the signings are very expensive and one of the options is that there won't be any more reinforcements.

www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11833_5464082,00.html

La Liga gets underway on 29th August 2009.  As usual, all eyes will be on Barcelona with the recently signed Ibrahimovic and Real Madrid with their trio of high profile signings - Kaka, Ronaldo and Benzema:

The Portuguese, who worked alongside the Geordie legend at Barca, has paid tribute to the great man...

Inter coach Jose Mourinho has expressed his sadness upon hearing of Sir Bobby Robson's death, and he has paid tribute to a footballing legend.

Sadly, Robson lost a long battle with cancer and died at the age of 76 earlier today. Mourinho learned his trade from the legendary manager during their days together at Barcelona. The Inter coach has now paid tribute to a special man.

A statement from Mourinho on the club's official website reads:

"I didn't speak with him [Robson] for the last two months because I was in difficulty.

"I was in difficulty because I didn't want to think that he was about to finish. It was not the image I wanted to take with me.

"It wasn't the voice I wanted to hear. I will always remember the Bobby Robson who had passion for life and football and who always had enthusiasm.

"Bobby Robson is one of those people who never die for all that they have given to people like myself, who had the fortune to walk by his side. My thoughts are with all of his dearest."

www.goal.com/en-india/news/139/italy/2009/07/31/1414452/jose-mourinho-sir-bobby-robson-was-a-man-of-great-passion

By John Bingham

Friday July 31 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to Real Madrid has reportedly prompted a new football bidding war - in the property world.

Top players including Carlos Tevez are said to be vying to buy the former Manchester United star's British home after his move to Spain.

The luxury house in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, has been linked to interest from a string of new signings at United's local rivals Manchester City.

Ronaldo, who moved to the Spanish club in a world record €94m transfer deal, paid about £3.85m (€4.5m) from the mansion in Cheshire's "footballers' wives belt" last year.

He is said to have put the property on the market for £4.5m (€5.3m) but several footballers have offered over the asking price, The Sun reported.

Kolo Toure, 28, reportedly leads the race with a £5.5m (€6.4m) bid, following his move to Manchester City from Arsenal.

But Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Gareth Barry, are all said to have made offers.

A source was quoted in The Sun as saying: "All the big players signing for City are having a sniff around Cheshire for the best house.

"Toure has made the biggest offer so far, but the others haven't given up on the chase yet. They all have deep pockets."

The 24-year-old Portuguese winger sealed his move to Real Madrid on Tuesday with his first goal for the Spanish side during its 4-2 victory over Liga de Quito in the Peace Cup.

www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/ronaldos-madrid-move-prompts-property-race-from-football-stars-1848499.html

It has been a very fruitful day at the La Rosaleda...

Malaga have confirmed the signings of Albert Luque and Jordi Pablo from Ajax and Villarreal, respectively.

Luque arrives at Malaga after spending last season on loan at the Estadio La Rosaleda, where he scored a total of eight goals.

The 31-year-old joins Malaga for nothing after terminating his contract with Ajax by mutual consent.

He will arrive in Malaga tomorrow to be presented at 12.30 (CET time), after which he will join the team's pre-season training camp in Benahavis.

Meanwhile, the club have confirmed the capture of Villarreal midfielder Jordi Pablo for an undisclosed fee. The 19-year-old will travel to Malaga on Monday to complete a medical with the new club.

"I am very happy and excited," Pablo told Malaga's official website. "I am eager to start working to return Malaga the trust they had in me."

Malaga have also confirmed that Villarreal have secured a buy-back clause for Pablo, who is a product of the Yellow Submarine's youth ranks.

www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/07/30/1413072/official-malaga-sign-albert-luque-jordi-pablo

Real Madrid are prepared to offer Liverpool a choice of Alvaro Negredo, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar or Rafael Van der Vaart as part of the deal to take Xabi Alonso to the Bernabeu as the Spanish club try to break the deadlock surrounding one of the summer’s longest-running transfer sagas.

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/5947138/Liverpool-offered-swap-deal-by-Real-Madrid-for-Xabi-Alonso.html